City moves ahead on storm projects

Officials expect federal funding approval soon for $5.75 million in recovery work

This 2012 photo shows what was at the time the future home of The Edge, a business incubator, on the corner of 8th Street and 22nd Avenue Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012. Federal funding has been approved to purchase land for The Edge. This facility will go on property that once housed the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center on 10th Avenue.

Staff photo | Michelle Lepianka Carter

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 12:21 a.m.

Federal funding approval for four storm recovery projects in Tuscaloosa could be final by the end of the month, city officials said.

Savannah Howell, community development program manager for the city's Recovery Operations division, said the drawdown of $5.75 million could begin once the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gives its final blessing for the work.

Included in the projects, which are being funded from portions of the $48 million awarded to Tuscaloosa last year by HUD for storm recovery expenses, is $2.75 million that will go toward the construction of Fire Station No. 4 in Alberta. The station was destroyed in the April 27, 2011, tornado, and the work will upgrade the former two-bay station to three bays while adding a new rescue truck.

Engineering and architectural services for the building are being funded through insurance proceeds, Howell said.

Another $1.275 million will upgrade and improve the infrastructure and equipment at Harmon and Jaycee parks, while Prince Avenue will get $1 million in upgrades for street and storm drainage infrastructure between Hargrove Road and Sumner Place.

The fourth project approved in this stage of funding is $725,000 to purchase land for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's business incubator called The Edge — Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

This facility, being built with an additional $8.56 million — $5.06 million from the U.S. Economic Development Association, $3.5 million from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs — will go on property that once housed the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center on 10th Avenue.

HUD granted Tuscaloosa $43.9 million in March and another $4.1 million in April for storm recovery projects and initiatives. The funding comes from the same HUD program — the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program — that provided $16.6 million to the city in December 2011.

Because the city has two years to spend the money once the projects clear HUD approval, officials are submitting work for HUD's review in stages.

The two-year window begins after HUD issues final approval of the mayor's project list, or what HUD refers to as an “action plan.”

To meet that deadline, some projects proposed under the action plan for the $16.6 million award have been shifted to this new round of projects.

Consequently, projects that could take longer than two years — extensive road, water and sewer work, for example — have been moved to the slate that lacks the two-year deadline.

Additionally, the city will not immediately receive money from HUD once the project list is approved by the federal agency. Instead, the city will front the costs for any project or program and submit routine invoices to HUD for reimbursement.

<p>Federal funding approval for four storm recovery projects in Tuscaloosa could be final by the end of the month, city officials said.</p><p>Savannah Howell, community development program manager for the city's Recovery Operations division, said the drawdown of $5.75 million could begin once the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gives its final blessing for the work.</p><p>Included in the projects, which are being funded from portions of the $48 million awarded to Tuscaloosa last year by HUD for storm recovery expenses, is $2.75 million that will go toward the construction of Fire Station No. 4 in Alberta. The station was destroyed in the April 27, 2011, tornado, and the work will upgrade the former two-bay station to three bays while adding a new rescue truck.</p><p>Engineering and architectural services for the building are being funded through insurance proceeds, Howell said.</p><p>Another $1.275 million will upgrade and improve the infrastructure and equipment at Harmon and Jaycee parks, while Prince Avenue will get $1 million in upgrades for street and storm drainage infrastructure between Hargrove Road and Sumner Place.</p><p>The fourth project approved in this stage of funding is $725,000 to purchase land for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's business incubator called The Edge — Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.</p><p> This facility, being built with an additional $8.56 million — $5.06 million from the U.S. Economic Development Association, $3.5 million from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs — will go on property that once housed the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center on 10th Avenue.</p><p>HUD granted Tuscaloosa $43.9 million in March and another $4.1 million in April for storm recovery projects and initiatives. The funding comes from the same HUD program — the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program — that provided $16.6 million to the city in December 2011.</p><p>Because the city has two years to spend the money once the projects clear HUD approval, officials are submitting work for HUD's review in stages.</p><p>The two-year window begins after HUD issues final approval of the mayor's project list, or what HUD refers to as an “action plan.”</p><p>To meet that deadline, some projects proposed under the action plan for the $16.6 million award have been shifted to this new round of projects.</p><p>Consequently, projects that could take longer than two years — extensive road, water and sewer work, for example — have been moved to the slate that lacks the two-year deadline.</p><p>Additionally, the city will not immediately receive money from HUD once the project list is approved by the federal agency. Instead, the city will front the costs for any project or program and submit routine invoices to HUD for reimbursement.</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>